Building wall construction



im@ 2Q? i939 E. E. SUCK y BUILDING WALL CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 17, 1957:35 invention shown in Figures 1 and 2;

hollow building wall construction having a facprovide an inexpensiveand/or practical form of Patented June 20, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE 2,163,454 BUILDING WALL CONSTRUCTION Edwin E. suck, Pittsburgh,Pa.

Application August 17, 1937, Serial No. 159,454

Claims.

This invention pertains to building blocks or bricks, and moreparticularly, to blocks having an opening closed off by a facing member.

In one aspect, my invention pertains t a ing thereon capable oftransmitting light.

It has been an object of my invention to pro.- vide a new and improvedform of building block,

and especially, to provide a new and improved' vbuildingblock that iscapable of transmitting light therethrough.

Another object of my invention has been to hollow building block.

A'further object has been to devise a building block havingsubstantially lthe desired light transmission properties of a glassbuilding block without the disadvantageous features thereof.

A still further object of my invention has been to provide a wallconstruction that may be employed to take the place of the entirethickness of a building construction including facing members.

. These and many other objects of my, invention will appear to thoseskilled inthe art from the specification, the drawing, and the appendedclaims. I

Figure V1 is a side sectional view in elevation of a wall constructed inaccordance with the principles of my invention;

Figure 2 is a top sectional view taken along the line II-II of Figure1;-

vFigure 3 is a side View in-` elevation of a block unit such as employedin the embodiment of my Figure 4 'is an end view of the block of Figure3; Figure 5 is an end sectional view taken along the line V-V ofrFigure'3; Figure 6 is an end view in perspective showing the insideconstructionof a facingmember c'onstruc'ted in accordance with myinvention;

Figure 'I is a horizontal sectional view similar to that of Figure 2through a modified form of block unit constructed in accordance with theprinciples of' my invention;

Figure 8 is a horizontal sectional view similar to Figure2 showing amodified-type of facing arrangement; and a Figure 9 is an end sectionalview similar to that of'Figure 5 showing?.A modiiiedform of block.

I In. carrying outmy. inventiomI-preferably prothrough. Suitablydesigned facing members or i manner that I have no need for recessed,offset,

or panelled wall portions. Thus, the wall portions will extendcontinuously and unbrokenly from one side or end of the block I0 to theother, and no special and/or additional operation is necessary to adapt'the block to the facing members I5. Y

'I'he facing members or elements I5 are mounted in such a manner thattheir edge portions are free to expand and contract without hindrance.That is, the adjacent edges of-mounted elements I5 preferably have aspaced-apart relationship with respect toeach other and, of course, arenot vconfined by wall portions of the block, itself. It will thus beapparent that the face or panel members I5 of glass or similarconstruction are located beyond what may be termed load-carrying planesof the block. In other words, the panelelements I5 are mounted beyondlimiting or conning Wall portions ofthe block, and for this reason, areprotected from the load to which the main wall'portions of suitableceramic or cementitious or other load-carrying material are subjected.In the form of unit chosen for the purpose of v illustration, the blockIB has a-rectang'ular shape bounded by outer wall portions II, andreinforced and joined together by a reinforcing or central partitionportion I2. 'I'he block may be made from any suitable material, suchasclay, cement, rubber, plastic, Wood, metal, etc., but is preferably madeof a ceramic or cementitious material. `The panel portion I5 in likemanner is preferlably pressed out from a suitable plastic or viscousmaterial, such as'glass, transparent rubber, ce1- lulose, etc.Primarily, therefore, the elements I5 are preferably of a character suchthat at least a portion of the light may be transmitted therethrough.vThat is, vthey are preferably at least translucent and may betransparent.

`been able to provide a building block having a skeleton structure whichmay be advantageously set in place in a building construction, forexample, by reason of its expansion and contraction qualities, and alsoby reason of its porosity. the'troubles .encountered in mountingall-glass blocks are eliminated. On the other hand, the construction issuch that substantially the same light-transmitting ability may beimparted to a block by the utilization of transparent or translucentfacing members orl elements. Y

The material used and/orthe structural parts employed in making the bodyportion of the block I0f'are preferably selected upon consideration ofstrength, cost, durability, and ease and/or effectiveness of joints. Onthe other hand, the selection of the material and strucvtural parts ofthe facing elements I5 is preferably selected from the standpoint of thedesign and/or light transmission effects desired. The

association of the body portion and facing elements is jsuch thatindividual deleterious effects A are Vsubstantially eliminated andadvantageous features of both are coordinated and enhanced. `The facingelements I5, which are preferably :fof glass construction, -havesuitable attaching portions IB extending therefrom, see, for example,Figure 6. The attaching portions I5 may the of continuous, square,rectangular, circular,

oroval shape, corresponding .to the shape of the continuous inner wallportions of the block I0. In 'Figure 6, the portions I6 lcompriseopposite spaced-.apart walls b--b and a-a. However,

suitable spaced-apart lugs or other construcitions may 'fbe employed inthis connection. l '-Ihe facing members I5, as shown particularly" in.Figures 2, 5, and '1, are mounted upon edge or ,side faces of the blockID in such a manner that their yedges terminate substantially centrallyof the thicknesses of the wall portions II and -I2. In this manner, aneffective :seal can be obtainedand any suitable or specially-designedmaterial may be employed for attaching edge portions of the facingmembers with respect to eachother or for filling up the spacingtherebetween. In FigureZ, I have indicated an ordinary form of 'suitablecementitious material 2l as positioned between each block I0 which, ofcourse, comprises, as shown in Figure 3, a pair of windows or openr gstherein. The major portion of the stress and strain of the constructionis thus borneby the strong material of the struc. ture I0, rather thanby the facing members I5 that ordinarily have the wrong type ofexpansion and contraction qualities.

The facing elements I5 may be mounted in position before or after thewall construction has been assembled; and if desired, they may be merelyfrictionally held in position or may be further attached by somesuitable cement. I prefer to employ the cement adjacent the flange I5,in order that each individual element I5 may be readily removed from thebuilding block construction, if necessary, by mdividually breaking it.Adjacent edges .of the facing elements v'II material, such as abituminous asphaltic composition, as set forth in mycopendingapplication Serial No. 119,785, entitled "Building blocks andprocedure for making them.

By means of the present construction, l,I can also stagger one blockwith reference to another, see Figure 1. It is, of course, apparent thata much better bond between blocks is thus vmade possible. The cornerportions of the wall may be .left blank or may be taken care yof by aspecially designed form yof block, such as III', see Figure 2. The blockI0 has a portion of its outside wall LI cut away, leaving only a narrowrim portion I3. The back of .the block, which is to lie adjacent an nendwall of an adjacent block I0, is closed off, -see the :numeral 2M, vandis beveled to connect with the partition portion I2'. It is, of course,apparent that yan ordinary form of block .Ill `may be employed insteadof the block I0 and .in such case a ,portion of the wall II 'will faceoutwardly.

Since in an ordinary construction, the builder may wish to provideIopaque wall portions, .I con' template either :providing .hollow fblockwith front be imposed upon the opaque as well as upon the transparent ortranslucent elements I5 or upon the side or end facing walls of theblock if the elements I5 are omitted.

In Figure 7, I have shown a modified construction which provides a veryeffective form of block. One or more of the facing elements I5 may beprovided with a cup-shaped element i1 for closing it off and providingone or more air spaces to improve the insulating qualities of the blockI0. The cup-shaped element I1 has suitably extending fianges IBcorresponding to the flanges I6; the flanges ISand I8 are preferablyfused together and slid into a cooperative relationship with the sidewalls of the block III, as a unit. See the fusing method set forth in mycopending application above-mentioned. ever, it will be apparent thatthe members I] and I5 may be mounted individually and cemented inposition, and that any suitable number of members I5 may be provided ineach opening. For example, each of the oppositefacing members I5 may beprovided with sealing-off elements I'I.

\ Although I preferably make the facing elements I5 in such a mannerthat one or vmore may be mounted on the same block and the same side ofthe block, it will be apparent that larger elements may be employed. Forexample, one element can be used to cover all of the openings in aIgiven block, or all of the openings or part of the openings of adjacentblocks of. a wall construction. See, for example, Figure 8. Here, the

ment is employed, I preferably eliminate one set of projecting portionsa-a, see Figure 6 of the drawing. Of course, it will be apparent thatthe size of the facing element I5 or I5b will dependl upon questions ofpracticability and also upon' the type of design desired. I prefer thesmaller elements, since the can be readily pressed intoform and can becasi and' quickly detached and l.replaced Vwhen desired; they alsov arereadily adaptable'to design requirements.

kIn Figure 9,- I have shown a block 20 whose as shown, or if desired,maybe provided on the inner wall portions 2l' and/or 22 ofthe block. Ifdesired,-the opaque wall portion 22 may be 'provided with any suitableconfiguration 23.

1 Where blocks I0 or 20 having double air spaces are used, suchas shownin Figure '7 of the drawv/in'g'ythey are particularly suitable to takethe place of a complete wall structure of a building. In other words,the facing elements I5'take the '-place'of inner and other facingmembers of an lordinary'construction and may have any suitable design orinlay, as desired. 'I'he block portion i0 has suitable depth, air spacecharacteristics, as

well'as strength such`that it can take the place 'ofa skeletonframework, sheathing, and other members employed in an ordinaryconstruction. In this manner, I have been able to provide a-very'inexpensive but practical form of block that eliminates thecomplicated and extensive structure ofan ordinary building and that mayalsotake the place of ordinary windows if, for example,'the building isto be air-conditioned. Bricks and other suitable building materlalsmaybe employed to build up the wall construction and the openings therein;the facing 4members are then mounted over the openings 'and over and4upon the wall construction.` f

In referring* to side or end portions of the block'in the specificationand claims, I include both terms broadly and interchangeably as portionsof the block. The block of my invention may be said to have a compositeconstruction.

Although I have shown preferred forms of my invention for the purpose ofillustration, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that othersuitable arrangements may be employed and that various modiflcations,substitutions, additions,

and/or subtractions, may also be made Without departing from the spiritand scope of my invention as indicated in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A building block having wall portions of a suitable load-carryingtype of material, and a facing element of glass or similar materialhaving a panel portion mounted upon surface portions -of`a side of theblock, said panel portion being located beyond confining load-carryingportions of the block.

2. A buildingblock having spaced-apart wall portions of a suitableload-carrying type of material terminating in an opening adjacent a sidethereof, a facing element of glassor similar material having a panelportion mounted over the opening and upon outer surface portions of aside of the block, said panel portion being located tions of the block.

said attaching projections being adapted to con operatively engage innerportions of said walls in such a manner that structural strain and loadwill be borne by said wall portions and that said panel portion .will beprotected with respect thereto. f Y

5. In a substantially hollow building blockv having substantiallycontinuous inner walls of uniform dimension along the opening therein, a

`facing element having a panel portion and attaching portions thereon,said attaching portions being adapted to cooperatively engageinnerlportions of said continuous walls and to hold said panel portionover the opening in said block andv upon outer faceportionsvof saidwalls, said panel portion V-being located vbeyond load-carrying por- 6.In a substantially hollow building block having at leastI one lateral`light passage extending elements mounted over said openings and uponopposite faces of said block, said facing elements on one face of theblock having a spaced-apart relationship with respect to adjacentelements on the same face, said facing elements having edge portionslocated beyond confining loadcarrying portions of the block.

8. A building block having a pair of light passages extendingtherethrough and a partition vmember separating said passages, a pair ofat least translucenty facing elements having panel portions mounted overthe passages on each side face of said block, said panel portions on oneface of said block having a spaced-apart relationship with respect toeach other and terminating substantially centrally of the block adjacentthe thickness of said partition, saidpanel portions being located beyondconfining load-carrying portions of the block. l

9. A building block having atleast one passageway therethrough at leastsubstantially surrounded by wall portions, said passage terminatingadjacent opposite faces of said block, a transparent facing Ielementhaving a'panel portion, attaching portions extending from said panelportion, said panel portion being mounted over said passageway and uponan outer face of said block, said panel portion being located beyondload-carrying portions of the block,

10. A building block of ceramic or' cementitious material having apassageway extending therethrough from one face to another face thereof,and means closing off said passageway and extending inwardly thereoffrom a face of said block, and means associated with saidfirst-mentioned means and providing a sealed air space with saidclosing-off means within vsaid block that is independent of wallportions of said block.

1l.. In a-substantially hollow building block having at least onechamber therein and terminating adjacent opposite ,face portionsthereof,

facing elements mounted over said chamber and upon opposite faces ofsaid block, and an additional element mounted within said chamber'in asubstantially parallel relationship with respect to said facing elementsand providing a pair of air spaces in said block.

12. In a substantially hollow building block having at least onechambertherein and terminating adjacent opposite face portions thereof,facing elements mounted over said chamber and upon opposite faces ofsaid block, and an additional element mounted within said chamber in aportions and upon the adjacent face of said block,

and means providing a reflecting surface within the spaced-apartportions of said block, said panel portion being located beyondload-carrying portions of the block.

14. In a substantially hollow building block of vementitious. ceramic,or other suitable loadcarrying opaque material, at least one passagewayin said block,a partition in said passageway, l

a side portion of said block being left open, a support portionextending about said last-mentioned :side portion of said block, and4facing elements having panel portions mounted over said passageway uponouter faces of said element and said lsupport portion and closing oifsaid open wall portion of said block, said panel portions being locatedbeyond load-carrying portions of the block. y

15. In a buildingl wall construction, va pair of blocks mounted in anadjacent and staggered relationship with respect to each other, each ofsaid blocks being of substantially hollow construction and having an airspace therein, and at least translucent means positioned on oppositeouter faces of said blocks adjacent said air spaces, said means havingpanel means positioned beyond load-carrying portions of the block.

16. In a complete wall structure for a building construction, aplurality of adjacently-positioned blocks mounted in a substantiallystaggered rela- 4tionship with. respect to l each. other, ,each `ofysaid blocks having at leastione passagewaythereinextending throughopposite faces thereof yfrom an inner portion of the building toanfouterportion thereof, and transparent facingA elements mount-r ed upon outerfaces of Jsaid blocks; and over the passageways therein, said facing,elements terminating substantially adjacent wall thickness portions ofsaid blocks, and means holding said facing members in position withrespectto said blocks and said blocks in position with respect to eachother,v said facing elements having panel y portions positioned beyondload-carrying portions of the block.

17. In a building wall having load-suplgiortinge side wall portions andopenings therebetween, a panel of glass or similar material covering theopenings. said panel having means inter-fitting with said side 'wallportions and mounting said panel upon a plane representing outersurfaceportions of a side of the building wall,l saidpanel beingV positionedbeyond load-carrying portions of the wall.

18. In a building wall having. load-supporting structural side wallportions and an opening ex, i

tending from one face thereof to another face thereof betweensaid sidewall portions, a glass facing member having a panel portion mounted overthe opening and upon outer face portions of said side wall portions,said facing member having means intertting with said side wall portionsand positioning said panel portion beyond load-carrying portions of thewall.

19. In a building wall as defined in claim 17, means of glass or othersuitable` materalvcooperating with said interiitting means and saidpanel to provide a closed-off air space with said panel.

-20. In a building block as dened in claim 1, means cooperating withsaid facing element to vprovide a closed-off .air space within theblock.

EDWIN E. SLICK.

